Addictive Slow Cooker Japanese Meat & Tofu a.k.a Niku Dofu

If you’re looking for a comforting, authentic Japanese meal that requires almost zero effort, this Slow Cooker Nikudofu is for you. “Niku” means meat and “Dofu” means tofu. This dish is usually simmered in a pot, but using a slow cooker makes the meat incredibly tender and allows the flavors to soak deep into the tofu.

In this post, I will share the simple steps to recreate this Japanese classic at home.

Ingredients (1 Serving)

Main Ingredients:

• Pork loin (Thinly sliced or bite-sized chunks): 120g (4.2 oz)

• Yaki-tofu (Grilled tofu): 150g (5.3 oz)

• Onion: 100g (3.5 oz)

Seasoning Sauce (☆):

• Soy sauce: 3 tbsp

• Mirin: 2.5 tbsp

• Sake: 2.5 tbsp

• Sugar: 1 tbsp

• Water: 60ml (0.25 US cup)

Toppings (Optional):

• Chopped green onions

Instructions

1. Prepare the ingredients: Cut the onion into bite-sized pieces. In a small bowl, mix all the seasoning ingredients (☆) together until the sugar is dissolved.

2. Assemble: Place the onions, pork, and tofu into the slow cooker.

3. Simmer: Pour the seasoning sauce over the ingredients.

4. Slow Cook: Set your slow cooker to Low and cook for 6 to 8 hours.

5. Serve: Once finished, transfer to a bowl and garnish with chopped green onions if desired. Enjoy it with a warm bowl of white rice!

Quick Note & Tips

• Tofu Options: If you cannot find Yaki-tofu (grilled tofu), you can use regular firm tofu. If using regular tofu, wrap it in paper towels for a few minutes to drain the excess water, and optionally sear the surface in a pan before adding it to the slow cooker for better texture.

• Meat Variation: While this recipe uses pork loin, you can also use thinly sliced beef or pork belly depending on your preference.

• Batch Cooking: This recipe is for one serving, but you can easily double or triple the ingredients to feed a family!